Health News
Hospital group KentuckyOne Health says it will launch a program on Nov. 1 that will let Kentuckians get urgent care at any time by consulting with a medical professional over the phone or web camera. The group says KentuckyOne Anywhere Care is among the first such programs in the nation.
?KentuckyOne Health?s purpose is to expand access to quality health care, no matter where you live in the Commonwealth; is one way we are doing that,? CEO Ruth W. Brinkley said. ?We can provide primary care to more Kentuckians, while saving them time, hassle and expense. We can treat conditions before they become more acute, as well as prevent unnecessary and costly emergency room visits.?
The service will cost patients $35 per visit, whether or not they are covered by insurance. "The cost is less than typical urgent care and a fraction of the cost of a normal emergency room visit," KentuckyOne said in a press release. Patients will be able to request a visit online or through a toll-free phone number. They will receive a phone call or video call from a medical provider within 30 minutes, the release promises.
"Patients will have access to board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners," the release says. "If needed, the KentuckyOne Anywhere Care provider will refer patients for a follow-up clinic visit or to an emergency department," and may prescribe medications, but won't prescribe or refill prescriptions for controlled substances.
The system will be operated by Carena Inc., which has been doing such work since 2010 and serves more than 500,000 patients in corporate programs and more than 1 million for the Franciscan Health System in Tacoma, Wash. The firm says it has a 98 percent satisfaction rating among patients.
Before going public, the new service will get a shakedown cruise by serving KentuckyOne employees who live in Kentucky. The group, Kentucky's largest, comprises Jewish Hospital & St. Mary?s HealthCare in Louisville; the Lexington-based Saint Joseph Health System, which includes hospitals in Bardstown, Berea, London, Martin, Mount Sterling and Shelbyville; and the University of Louisville Hospital and James Graham Brown Cancer Center. (Read more)
- Kentuckyone Health Names New Board Chair And Vice Chair
KentuckyOne Health has named Richard A. Schultz chair of its board of directors and Jane J. Chiles as vice chair. Schultz succeeds Bob Hewett, who served as chair since KentuckyOne?s inception in 2012. Schultz will remain on the board, according to a...
- Mount Sterling Follows Lead Of Another Kentuckyone Health Hospital, In Bardstown, To Host Monthly 'walk With A Doc'
Saint Joseph Mount Sterling is the second KentuckyOne Health hospital to host monthly "Walk With a Doc" events as part of a nationwide program that promotes walking as a great way to improve your health, while at the same time offering a place to get...
- Kentuckyone Health Teaches Diabetics To Manage The Disease
KentuckyOne Health has launched a new program to help Kentuckians with diabetes learn how to self-manage their disease, according to a news release. "Giving patients the tools and knowledge they need to manage their own health, including their diabetes,...
- Kentuckyone Health Announces Layoffs, But Not How Many
Major hospital operator KentuckyOne Health says it is laying off workers, but isn't saying how many. "The many steps we have taken so far across KentuckyOne Health to reduce our expenses to match our revenue have not been enough," the company...
- St. Joseph Health System Announces Merger With Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's Healthcare
Rebuffed in its bid to take over Louisville's University Hospital, Catholic Health Initatives announced today that its St. Joseph Health System had merged with Jewish Hospital & St. Mary?s HealthCare, effective retroactively to Jan. 1. Gov....
Health News
KentuckyOne Health to start around-the-clock online or phone access to health-care providers for $35 a visit on Nov. 1
?KentuckyOne Health?s purpose is to expand access to quality health care, no matter where you live in the Commonwealth; is one way we are doing that,? CEO Ruth W. Brinkley said. ?We can provide primary care to more Kentuckians, while saving them time, hassle and expense. We can treat conditions before they become more acute, as well as prevent unnecessary and costly emergency room visits.?
The service will cost patients $35 per visit, whether or not they are covered by insurance. "The cost is less than typical urgent care and a fraction of the cost of a normal emergency room visit," KentuckyOne said in a press release. Patients will be able to request a visit online or through a toll-free phone number. They will receive a phone call or video call from a medical provider within 30 minutes, the release promises.
"Patients will have access to board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners," the release says. "If needed, the KentuckyOne Anywhere Care provider will refer patients for a follow-up clinic visit or to an emergency department," and may prescribe medications, but won't prescribe or refill prescriptions for controlled substances.
The system will be operated by Carena Inc., which has been doing such work since 2010 and serves more than 500,000 patients in corporate programs and more than 1 million for the Franciscan Health System in Tacoma, Wash. The firm says it has a 98 percent satisfaction rating among patients.
Before going public, the new service will get a shakedown cruise by serving KentuckyOne employees who live in Kentucky. The group, Kentucky's largest, comprises Jewish Hospital & St. Mary?s HealthCare in Louisville; the Lexington-based Saint Joseph Health System, which includes hospitals in Bardstown, Berea, London, Martin, Mount Sterling and Shelbyville; and the University of Louisville Hospital and James Graham Brown Cancer Center. (Read more)
- Kentuckyone Health Names New Board Chair And Vice Chair
KentuckyOne Health has named Richard A. Schultz chair of its board of directors and Jane J. Chiles as vice chair. Schultz succeeds Bob Hewett, who served as chair since KentuckyOne?s inception in 2012. Schultz will remain on the board, according to a...
- Mount Sterling Follows Lead Of Another Kentuckyone Health Hospital, In Bardstown, To Host Monthly 'walk With A Doc'
Saint Joseph Mount Sterling is the second KentuckyOne Health hospital to host monthly "Walk With a Doc" events as part of a nationwide program that promotes walking as a great way to improve your health, while at the same time offering a place to get...
- Kentuckyone Health Teaches Diabetics To Manage The Disease
KentuckyOne Health has launched a new program to help Kentuckians with diabetes learn how to self-manage their disease, according to a news release. "Giving patients the tools and knowledge they need to manage their own health, including their diabetes,...
- Kentuckyone Health Announces Layoffs, But Not How Many
Major hospital operator KentuckyOne Health says it is laying off workers, but isn't saying how many. "The many steps we have taken so far across KentuckyOne Health to reduce our expenses to match our revenue have not been enough," the company...
- St. Joseph Health System Announces Merger With Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's Healthcare
Rebuffed in its bid to take over Louisville's University Hospital, Catholic Health Initatives announced today that its St. Joseph Health System had merged with Jewish Hospital & St. Mary?s HealthCare, effective retroactively to Jan. 1. Gov....